The 2015 Barcelona Fives had been one of the most difficult ever to qualify for the Cup competition with not even 2nd place in the group a guaranteed a place in the Cup. We therefore we expected a very strong Plate competition with some quality teams that would have otherwise made the Cup in some of our other tournaments.

The Plate Quarter-Finals would begin with Naranjitos versus Drunk Perfect. Naranjitos were chasing a third successive Plate victory and if they could win this competition they would be the second team to achieve that feat after the CSF won the Plate at the 2009 Algarve Open, 2009 Amsterdam Fives and 2009 Valencia Fives.

By a twist of fate these two teams had met in the group phase – Naranjitos had edged that game 2-1. Drunk Perfect would have their opportunity to gain revenge! With the match under-way nothing could separate the two teams in the first half and they entered half-time level at 1-1. Javier Hernandes Torres scored his second of the day for Naranjitos whilst Giovanni Galle scored his third of the tournament for Drunk Perfect.

There was more of the same in the second half as the teams shared a goal each – Miguel Angel Escuita Lozano for Naranjitos and Dimitri Hubert for Drunk Perfect. The final score was 2-2 and we needed penalties to decide this tie.

The two teams could be separated after the first round of penalties – Naranjitos took the first penalty but missed it to hand the initiative to Drunk Perfect who scored theirs for 1-0. In the second round of penalties Naranjitos levelled it up only for Drunk Perfect to forge ahead again, 2-1. Naranjitos held their nerve to level it again at 2-2 but Drunk Perfect remained cool to convert the decisive spot kick and they were through, 3-2 on penalties.

Pitch B played host to the 2nd Plate Quarter-Final between ABCDE FC and Wealdstone Raiders. Due to the nature of the tournament format and qualification criteria, the knock-out places are pre-determined based on where teams finish in their group and their “ranking” as 5th best 2nd place or Best 4th placed team for example. Therefore, from time to time we get teams in the Quarter-Finals who have met in the group phase – what is extraordinary is that for the second Quarter-Final in a row this had transpired.

ABCDE FC and Wealdstone Raiders had met in Game #5 of Group C with the former taking the victory 2-1. We had seen above Drunk Perfect take revenge for a group loss – could Wealdstone Raiders repeat the feat?

It didn't look on the cards at half-time as there was a sense of déjà vu with ABCDE FC holding the advantage by the same 2-1 scoreline. Rashid Navlakhi and Matthew Berka bagged the goals for ABCDE FC whilst a Ben Smale goal for Wealdstone Raiders meant it was game on going into the second period.

We had seen a penalty shoot-out required to separate the two teams in the first Quarter-Final after a Desmond (2-2) draw and if Wealdstone Raiders could grab the next goal we could well be looking at the same requirement here. Penalties would not be required though as ABCDE FC stretched their lead to 3-1 (thanks to an Adam Watson goal) and booked their place in the Semi-Final.

Plate Quarter-Final 3 would see Saladmode FC meet Depo Legends. Both teams had finished third in their group but Saladmode FC would start as favourites having produced the better record in the group phase with 2 wins, 1 draw and 1 defeat – that defeat came in the very first game and they had been on a fine run of form since including beating the Group A winners.

Depo Legends had won 2 and lost 2 in Group D and were no strangers to the eurofootballfives.com Plate competition. At the 2011 Amsterdam Fives and 2014 Berlin Fives they were Runners-Up in the Plate and their Depo Allstars team won the Plate here in the 2013 Barcelona Fives. They did have 2 defeats in Plate Quarter-Finals though – both in Portugal at the 2012 and 2015 Algarve Opens.

The Irish team were heading for a third Plate Quarter-Final defeat at half-time as Sam O'Connor put Saladmode FC and although only a narrow lead a fourth game unbeaten looked on the cards. Depo Legends hit back in the second period with Ger O'Loughlin restoring parity and Paul Kinsella striking the winner. It was the second time Depo Legends had come from behind to secure victory today.

Saladmode FC were out and it was a bit of a surprise as they looked like they were on the up and up after their first game. We hope they will join us on tour again for another crack at glory.

Who would meet Depo Legends in the Plate Semi-Finals? Prospe FC and Hardly Athletic were the teams set to do battle.

It was 3rd in Group B against 3 rd in Group E. In the morning session Hardly Athletic had the better of the records claiming 7 points from a possible 12 scoring 9 goals and conceding 7. Their opponents had claimed 5 points from 12 and had the reverse goal difference – scoring 7 and conceding 9. Prospe FC had qualified for the Cup last year and it was perhaps a surprise to see them drop down a level in 2015 – it would make them a dangerous team in the Plate competition.

The tie was set up to be a great encounter and arguably the highest standard of the Plate Quarter-Finals. The game proved to be a very close contest full of action and full of goals. When the referee drew the game to its conclusion we had a winner by the odd goal in 5 – it was Hardly Athletic who came out on top. Goals from Will Stone, Oliver Green and Murat Haykir ensured it would be the English team whose stay in the tournament would be extended.

Prospe FC went out in the Cup Quarter-Finals 12 months ago and it was to be another Quarter-Final exit in this year's tournament.